Richardson's first taste of AFL training came when the Kangaroos travelled to Utah, America, for a three week high altitude training camp.

Hiking for eight hours through two-feet of snow is a tough induction for any new recruit but despite the pain Richardson found his time at the camp enjoyable.

"It was a different type of training, we did a lot of hiking and endurance things rather than your sprinting and power training, it was different, very tough but very enjoyable as well," he says.

After winning North Melbourne's 3.2km time trial late last year in a time of 10 minutes 30 seconds, Richardson's endurance level is already at AFL standard but he still believes his foot skills and strength need improvement.

"I'm probably no good at the weight side of things, I've got to get a bit stronger and stuff like that, so that's been the hardest for me getting as strong as these other boys."

On Monday North Melbourne had a competitive scratch match were Richardson was given his first chance to impress on the wing.

The former North Ballarat Rooster has spent the entire pre-season training as a half-back-flanker before been given a chance to impress in the middle.

He says it was one of his better practice match sessions.

"I improved on what I had been dishing up, it was 40 degrees so it took it out of me, it took it out of everyone, but I went all right, just a few skill errors."

Next week Richardson will join his teammates in Ballarat for a community camp which includes the clubs first full intra-club match of 2011 to be played at Eureka Stadium.

"Everyone that I know will be able to come and have a look and see whether I go good or bad."